Automatic ornamental sewing machine



Aug. 27, 1963 F. GEGAUF, JR

AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL SEWING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1962Aug. 27, 1963 F. GEGAUF, JR

AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Aug. 27, 1963 F. GEGAUF, JR 3,101,585

AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL SEWING MACHINE- Filed Jan. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Aug. 27, 1963 F. GEGAUF, JR 3,101,585

' AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet4 \mfi ' a 0 1 61 If I 1 Fig.7

Aug. 27, 1963 F. GEGAUF, JR 3,101,585

AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTAL SEWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5MMM) W War/M m United States Patent @f 3,101,685 AUTOMATIC ORNAMENTALSEWING MACHINE Fritz Gcgauf, .Ir., Steckhorn, Thurgau, Switzerland,

assignor to Fritz Gegauf Aktiengesellschaft Bernina- Nahmaschineniabrik,Steckborn, Thurgau, Ewitzerlaud Filed Jan. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,922Claims priority, application Switzerland Jan. 12, 196i Claims. or.1I215S) It is an object of the present invention to provide an automaticornamental sewing machine in which it will be possible to alwayspositively ascertain the last stitch of an ornamental pattern.

With automatic sewing machines of known kind it happens often whenornamental embroideries and designs are carried out, that at the endofstitching an ornamental pattern the direction of feed for the materialhas to be changed, and it is diiticult for the operator to recognize theend of the ornamental pattern by observing the individual needlestitches. In most cases a pattern is not completely finished or sewingis continued too long and a number of stitches of the next fol-lowingornamental pattern is added thereto. This frequently results into aninexact and unpleasant work in spite of the great attention and laborspent by the operator.

In order to overcome this drawback, the ornamental sewing machineaccording to the invention comprises one or more control cams from whichthe various ornamental stitches are derived, and a scale adapted to bedriven in dependency of the drive of the cam or cams, said scale beingprovided with at least one pattern mark permitting to ascertain the laststitch of each ornamental pattern.

The scale can be mounted on the cam shaft and provided along its edgewith as many numbers as there are stitches required for a completeornamental pattern. These numbers are visible in a reading orifice asfixed mark.

The scale also may be driven by a reduction gear so that the number ofrevolutions of the cam discs is a whole multiple of the number ofrevolutions of the driving member connected to the scale; the said wholemultiple is equal to the number of passages of the scale markcorresponding to an ornamental pattern relatively to the fixed mark, forone revolutionof the cam disc. The scale mark in this case preferably isa schematized ornamental pattern. When the scale is rotatably moved, itcarries a number of ornamental pattern marks along its peripherycorresponding to the ratio of reduction, for example in the case of areduction ratio of 1:12 there are provided twelve ornamental patternmarks. When the scale is driven to oscillate to-and-fro, then thereduction ratio may be 1:2 and the number of passage of ornamentalpatterns past the fixed mark is also two. The fixed mark may be providedat a reading orifice behind which moves the scale. The reading orificeis of such size that at least one entire schematizedornamental patternor the scale mark corresponding to the pattern becomes visible. Theratio of reduction is of such a value that the time of observation islong enough to enable an easy observation of the scale mark even athighest sewing speeds, which forms a great advantage for the operatorwhen making embroideries in ornamental pattern shape.

The present invent-ion will now be described in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings il- 3-,lfil,fi85 Patented Aug.27, 1963 ice lustrating, by way of example, two preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and in which: 7

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary View in elevation of the sewing machine armwith a reading aperture for the rotating stitch number scale;

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line II of FIGURE 1 drawn to a largerscale;

FIGURE 3 shows various ornamental stitch patterns carried out with achange in direction, namely (a) with a single change in the direction ofthe material feed, (b) with multiple change in the direction of thematerial feed, (0) a design of ornamental stitching;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a sewing machine armhaving a reading aperture of the rotating pattern scale according to amodification of the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary View in elevation showing the reduction gearand the rotating scale;

FIGURE 6 represents a view of the reading aperture drawn to a largerscale;

FIGURE 7 is a section according to the line VII-VII of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a section according to the line VIII VIII of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view in section of a sewing machine armaccording to further modificationhaving an oscillatory pattern scale;

FIGURE 10 is a section according to line XX of FIGURE 9.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, the hollow arm 1 of a sewing machine iscovered by a closure lid 2. A shaft 3 extending through the interior ofthe arm 1 carries a helical pinion '4 driving a helical wheel 5. Bymeans of a screw 9 the wheel 5 is fixed to a shaft 6 which is supportedin two bearings '7 and 8 mounted in the arm 1. The hub 10 of the wheel 5carries a plurality of cams ll rigidly connected'thereto by screw 12 and13. Each of the eams '11 is shaped on its circumferential surface so asto produce a certain ornamental pattern. Each individual cam 11 coactswith a feeler, not shown, to operate in known manner a stitch widthconnecting link, also not shown, and the movement of this latter istransmitted to the needle bar 14, carrying the needle 15 by means of alinkage not shown. A scale 16 is arranged on the forward end of theshaft 6. This scale is fixed to a hub 17 which in turn is fastened tothe shaft :6 by a set screw 18. The figures 19 on the scale 16 appear ina reading aperture -20 of the lid 2 of the arm 1. A graduation mark 21is associated with each figure on the scale. A fixed graduation mark 22is provided on the reading aperture 20. When the movable graduation mark21 associated with each figure is disposed exactly underneath the fixedgraduation mark 22, the figure which is readable underneath in theparticular moment corresponds to the number of the needle stitches of anornamental pattern. Scale figures 2 to 36- appear on the scale in theexample, since the machine requires 36 needle stitches for sewing asingle ornamental pattern.

When the machine is ready to operate and an ornamental design accordi-ngto FIGURE 3(a) is sewed, the direction of the material feed must bechanged at each end of each particular ornamental pattern; this isbrought about in that the needle is left pinned in the material at theend of the ornamental pattern, then the sewing foot enemas 9 is releasedand the material is turned into the proper direction. In order to findout whether this change in direction is carried out at the correct pointof the ornamental pattern, the machine is stopped while the operatorsimultaneously observes the scale through the reading aperture 29 andbrings the machine to standstill as soon as the graduation mark 21 ofthe figure 36 is located underneath the fixed graduation mark 22provided on the reading aperture lit. The ornamental pattern accordingto FIGURE 3(b) is sewed in similar manner. Several changes in thedirection of the material feed are necessary in this case. The variousornamental patterns of a design according to FIGURE 3(0) are sewed inthe same manner.

The construction previously described can naturally be subjected to manymodifications. Thus, the reading aperture can be disposed at a ditferentpoint according to the arrangement of the control cams. Moreover, it ispossible instead of using a rotating scale which is separate of thecontrol cams to provide an ornamental stitch cam itself with a scale.Finally, the scale may be arranged at a diiferent location than the oneshown, thus e.g. at the outside of the machine case and the scale may bedriven from the shaft 6 by the intermediary of gear wheels or othersuitable means. It is also possible to reciprocate the scale by suitablemeans, for example by a cam or a crank drive.

In the modifications according to FIGURES 4 to 8, the front end portion1 of a sewing machine arm is provided with a cover lid 2a at its end,from which the switch button of the not represented illuminating lightprojects. The top of the arm is closed by a lid 2 provided with areading aperture 55. The needle bar 14 projecting downwardly from thehead of the arm 1 is moved in known manner by a crank drive not shown.The shaft 3 within the arm carries a helical pim'on 4 meshing with thehelical wheel 5 which drives the plurality of cams 11. The helical wheel5 and the earns 11 are secured to each other by the screw 1101) (FIGURE7), and fixed to the shaft 6 by the set screw 9. The shaft 6 is mountedin the bearing sleeves '7' and 3 which are maintained against rotationby set screws 7 (a) and 8(a). A pinion 58 is fixed by a screw 59 to thefront end of the shaft 6 of the control cams. The pinion 58 drives agear wheel having two gear crowns 6d and 51, fixed to a stationary pin62 carried by a supporting plate 63, secured by means of two screws 64to a column 65 of the arm 1. The pin 62 is formed as a journal screwfixed to the nut 25 to the plate 63. The gear wheel 61 drives a furtherwheel 26 also fixed by a journal screw 27 and nut 28 to the plate 63. Ascale 29 is riveted by a rivet 30 to the gear wheel .26. The scale isprovided with schematized pat-terns 31 which are visible in the readingaperture 55 during the revolution of the wheel 26. Near one end of theaperture 55 a mark 32 is provided for indicating the end of a stitchedpattern.

The described mechanism operates in the following manner:

When the sewing machine is operated by any conventional means not shown,the cam unit 11 is rotated by the helical pinion 4 and the wheel 5. Afeeler or cam fol-lower, not shown, transmits the impulses according tothe shape of an individual cam to the oscillating link, not shown, whichin turn transmits the movements to the oscillating frame of the needle.During the sewing operation the pinion 58 on the shaft 6 drives thereduction gearing 6h, 61, 26 and thus turns the scale 29 behind thereading aperture, so that the operator with the aid of the mark 32 canobserve the development of the pattern and at the same time the sewingwork, even at high sewing speed.

In the modification according to FIGURES 9 and 10, the pinion 58 drivesa gear wheel 3$which is integral with an eccentric 34. The gear wheel 33is mounted on a journal screw 35 secured to a supporting plate 36 bymeans of a nut 37. The supporting plate 35- is fixed by two screws 38and 39 to an adjusting plate 4%. This plate is screwed to the arm 1 bymeans of two screws 41 and 42. A scale lever 4-3 is mounted by means of.a journal pin 44 and nut 45 on the supporting late 36. The scale lever43 is provided with a schematized pattern 46 which appears in thereading aperture 47 after each stroke of the to-and-fro oscillatorymotion of the lever. At one end of the reading aperture there isprovided a mark 48. The scale lever 43 is urged against the eccentric 34by means of a pressure spring 49. The spring bears with one end againsta counter bearing 50 on the plate 413.

The operation of the above described modification diifers from that ofFIGURES 4 to 8 in that the ornamental pattern 4-6 on the oscillatoryscale lever 43 moves to-and-fro in the reading aperture, correspondingto two passages of the pattern per revolution of the cam. Upon sewing,the lever 43 is moved by the eccentric 34, the spring 49 ascertainingthe permanent operative connection between the lever 43 and theeccentric. The speed of oscillation of the lever 43 is small so that theoperator can easily observe the motion of the schematized pattern andthe sewing work, also at high sewing speed.

In both exampes according to FIGURES 4 to 8 and FIGURES 9 and 10, meansare provided to adjust the scale with the schematiz'ed pattern withrespect to the mark of the reading apertures, in accordance with themotion of the control cams.

Obviously, the described mechanisms may be modified, for example thereduction gear can be so arranged that the scale and the readingaperture may be situated at any other convenient place of the sewingmachine. The driving means, for example a chain, must actuate the scaleso that this latter moves in synchronism with the control cam discs.Further, the scale lever can be positively driven by the eccentric whenthe lever is fork-shaped and engages the eccentric at diametricallyopposite points thereof.

1 claim:

1. In an ornamental sewing machine having a housing and a plurality ofrotary control cams for controlling the action of the sewing machine tosew ornamental patterns, a device for indicating the progress of theaction of the sewing machine in sewing ornamental patterns comprising adriven shaft on which the control cams are adapted to be mounted, anindicator scale movable relative to said housing and having at least oneindicator means thereon corresponding to the pattern to be sewn, a markfixed with respect to said housing and past which said indicator scaleand indicator means thereon is movable, and reduction gear means coupledbetween said driven shaft and said indicator scale for driving saidindicator scale so that one complete indicator means moves past saidmark for each complete revolution of said driven shaft, and saidreduction gear means reduces the rotation of said indicator shaft tol/nth the number of revolutions of said driven shaft, where n is a wholenumber, whereby when the end of said indicator means on said indicatorscale reaches said mark, the control cam has completed one revolutionand a complete pattern has been sewn.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said indicator scale ismovable in only one direction relative to said'housing, and there are Itsaid indicator means on said indicator scale, whereby the end of anindicator means is opposite the mark after each revolution of saiddriven shaft.

3.'A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said indicator scale isreciprocable relative to said housing, there is only one indicator meanson said indicator scale, and said reduction gear means comprises meansfor converting rotational movement into reciprocal movement forreciprocating said indicator scale relative to said housing.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing has a viewingopening therein having a size corresponding to the size of saidindicator means, and said mark being on the housing adjacent saidopening.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which said viewing opening iselongated and said mark is adjacent the end of said viewing openingtoward which said indicator scale moves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,600,513 Meilstrup et a1. June 17, 1952 6 Matthew Jan. 15, 1957Almquist Apr. 26, 1960 Schwab et al Feb. 7, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS GermanyDec. 15, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Bonebung et al.: German application1,092,282, printed Nov. 3, 1960.

1. IN AN ORNAMENTAL SEWING MACHINE HAVING A HOUSING AND A PLURALITY OFROTARY CONTROL CAMS FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTION OF THE SEWING MACHINE TOSEW ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS, A DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE PROGRESS OF THEACTION OF THE SEWING MACHINE IN SEWING ORNAMENTAL PATTERNS COMPRISING ADRIVEN SHAFT ON WHICH THE CONTROL CAMS ARE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED, ANINDICATOR SCALE MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING AND HAVING AT LEAST ONEINDICATOR MEANS THEREON CORRESPONDING TO THE PATTERN TO BE SEWN, A MARKFIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING AND PAST WHICH SAID INDICATOR SCALEAND INDICATOR MEANS THEREON IN MOVABLE, AND REDUCTION GEAR MEANS COUPLEDBETWEEN SAID DRIVEN SHAFT AND SAID INDICATOR SCALE FOR DRIVING SAIDINDICATOR SCALE SO THAT ONE COMPLETE INDICATOR MEANS MOVES PAST SAIDMARK FOR EACH COMPLETE REVOLUTION OF SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, AND SAIDREDUCTION GEAR MEANS REDUCES THE ROTATION OF SAID INDICATOR SHAFT TO1/NTH THE NUMBER OF REVOLUTIONS OF SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, WHERE N IS A WHOLENUMBER, WHEREBY WHEN THE END OF SAID INDICATOR MEANS ON SAID INDICATORSCALE REACHES SAID MARK, THE CONTROL CAM HAS COMPLETED ONE REVOLUTIONAND A COMPLETE PATTERN HAS BEEN SEWN.